tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554Sat, 18 Jul 2015 18:36:32 +0000http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifAEvery Day is an AdventureA wife, mother, teacher, and avid reader...who likes to write, review books, garden, cook and live the simple life! Self-proclaimed "canning queen," and a Southern girl at heart, I have a deep appreciation for all things "old school" and would rather splurge on a new book than a new dress, and make no apologies for it! Faith and love of country are a must in my life. Welcome to my musings...http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Horne)Blogger454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-4693816187116652210Sat, 18 Jul 2015 18:32:00 +00002015-07-18T14:34:45.055-04:00Back into Blogging...<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ugeaUWN6e3U/VaqaG-fLm6I/AAAAAAAAFP4/v-w17UFQLiA/s1600/My%2BSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ugeaUWN6e3U/VaqaG-fLm6I/AAAAAAAAFP4/v-w17UFQLiA/s200/My%2BSide.jpg" width="200" /></a>It's time...I have taken a year-long hiatus from blogging as I focused on the kids, my classroom and moving into a new house.&nbsp; I feel like it is time to get back into blogging WITH A VENGANCE!&nbsp; I have been reading, canning, quilting and planting up a storm so I am hoping to expand the blog a little to include all of that PLUS my usual book reviews.&nbsp; Maybe blogging a little about my classroom during the upcoming school year too!</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a ﻿quick update.&nbsp; The boys are growing like weeds and this year we will have a kindergartner and a second grader!&nbsp; Life is good at the new "homestead" as I am calling it.&nbsp; I have quickly realized that my ambitions are lofty for what I want to do with the new land and I need to pump the brakes a little.&nbsp; We have so much to do...so I guess baby steps.</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek-5U0Egj5Y/VaqaHnifA0I/AAAAAAAAFQA/vObiuwQHzVY/s1600/IMG_5503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek-5U0Egj5Y/VaqaHnifA0I/AAAAAAAAFQA/vObiuwQHzVY/s200/IMG_5503.JPG" width="200" /></a>I have been reading like crazy this summer.&nbsp; I just finished <em>The Apple Orchard</em> by Susan Wiggs - delightful!&nbsp; I'll have a review coming soon.&nbsp; I also read a dynamite young adult novel last week, <em>The Boundless</em> by Kenneth Oppel.&nbsp; I am re-reading currently the <em>My Side of the Mountain</em> series by Jean Craighead George finishing up all three in about two days and pondering how I will incorporate them into my curriculum next year.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5AtMIk2wPC4/VaqarvEnE-I/AAAAAAAAFQI/IdBTV95SZWY/s1600/oundless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5AtMIk2wPC4/VaqarvEnE-I/AAAAAAAAFQI/IdBTV95SZWY/s320/oundless.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">﻿I am working on a four year quilt - yes, I said four years because although that is an exaggeration it FEELS like it has taken me four years to complete it!&nbsp; I have more fabric waiting for me as I owe some baby quilts to a few nieces and nephews.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDoxuikcarY/Vaqa443OPQI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/R4LhIdK1LwM/s1600/Jelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDoxuikcarY/Vaqa443OPQI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/R4LhIdK1LwM/s200/Jelly.jpg" width="200" /></a>Summertime here in Virginia has been wet so I am patiently awaiting my tomato plants to really start producing, plus they were late getting into the ground since we were moving this spring.&nbsp; I am relying on the farmer's markets and a good friend's farm right now for all of my produce.&nbsp; Canning so far has been light, a few jams and jellies but I did experiment with a fine mesh strainer which made for some delicious blueberry jelly!&nbsp; I have been using the dehydrator for blueberries and raspberries, yum!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_PJtwILfxA/Vaqa5_A0CuI/AAAAAAAAFQY/zfLwKNgcJuM/s1600/IMG_5504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_PJtwILfxA/Vaqa5_A0CuI/AAAAAAAAFQY/zfLwKNgcJuM/s200/IMG_5504.JPG" width="150" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">To end, what I have loved most about this summer so far is my new life out in the woods.&nbsp; Each night I find so much happiness in the quiet of the back porch with a great book and a glass of wine.&nbsp; Our outside cat agrees...the country life is good!</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RqoM4T6BGmM/VaqbH82NK2I/AAAAAAAAFQk/JcLHaRNpdXc/s1600/Faye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RqoM4T6BGmM/VaqbH82NK2I/AAAAAAAAFQk/JcLHaRNpdXc/s320/Faye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB1ahtp8GKY/VaqbH-l-euI/AAAAAAAAFQg/HRZqNhLBtls/s1600/Morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB1ahtp8GKY/VaqbH-l-euI/AAAAAAAAFQg/HRZqNhLBtls/s320/Morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2015/07/back-into-blogging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-2044456099263030334Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:07:00 +00002014-03-16T21:07:31.716-04:00Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind WisemanMasterminds &amp; Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman is above all else a fantastic read! After perusing through it over the last few weeks one thought immediately comes to my mind – if you are someone who has any interaction with boys, this book should be continually clutched under your arm as a guide to how to navigate the shark-infested waters otherwise known as “raising boys.”<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb3V2B9JYAA/UyZKsqQLVHI/AAAAAAAAE8s/GC54JUc25Uw/s1600/Masterminds-and-Wingmen-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb3V2B9JYAA/UyZKsqQLVHI/AAAAAAAAE8s/GC54JUc25Uw/s1600/Masterminds-and-Wingmen-200x300.jpg" /></a>What I love most about this book is its reference manual style. This is not something that you have to read in its entirety from cover to cover but more a book you can use as a reference point for a particular problem or situation. Son comes home tight-lipped and you suspect it is an issue with friends? No problem, grab a cup of tea and flip to chapter three – Popularity and Groups. Having an issue detaching your son from the ever tightening grip of social media? Chapter nine, “Social Networking” should help direct your intervention. I am a huge fan of parenting books in this style.<br /><br />One of the more appealing aspects of this book is that it is based in the absolute true reality of day-to-day parenting of boys. This book offers no pretenses and no illusions about just how hard this can be for parents and is quite frank about the lack of support parents of boys get from our modern day culture. I like it…and find its honesty quite refreshing. She really encourages parents to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and start finding solutions since after all, it’s all up to us.<br /><br />If I had to choose a favorite chapter it would be thirteen, “Redemption and Reconciliation.” Many parenting books focus on the surface stuff. For me, this chapter reaches the depths that parents really need to go. Teaching our young boys that they will sometimes fail, mess up, or find themselves in situations which will require them to really dig deep to get out of. I like that Wiseman encourages parents to teach their young men about how to respond to difficult situations – and everything is in the way you respond. Responsibility, redemption, and reconciliation are the key to her message and I think parents everywhere would do well to really digest that message.<br /><br />The most applicable chapter for parents today is definitely chapter nine on social networking. Because of social media, parenting today is harder than ever before. The entire universe (literally) seems against us and it is a scary place to just throw our children without adequate preparation. Since cutting them off completely is very unlikely, Wiseman really encourages earning trust and building skills so that they are prepared. As a teacher I see firsthand on a daily basis the negatives of social media and how that can impact our young boys. It is an entirely different world than we grew up in and this book really discusses how to prepare your son for that world – it is something no parent can afford not to do.<br /><br />&nbsp;If you’re interacting with young boys this book would be the perfect addition to your parenting arsenal!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2014/03/masterminds-and-wingmen-by-rosalind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-906680039015368681Mon, 27 May 2013 12:06:00 +00002013-05-27T08:06:51.346-04:00Sights From This SpringI am already jumping into gardening, canning and all things spring/summer.&nbsp; Here are some sights from my spring so far (and if you couldn't tell, I have been playing around with PicMonkey a bit):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4LK-kkZYISE/UaNLg9Dl2jI/AAAAAAAAEoE/5_22Hprmpw4/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4LK-kkZYISE/UaNLg9Dl2jI/AAAAAAAAEoE/5_22Hprmpw4/s320/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Those carrots were left over from last year - I can never seem to grow good carrots so I guess the trick must be to leave them in for a year and a half!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7rH4gkPhWw/UaNL-MFu5cI/AAAAAAAAEoM/B3k0FcCyBOo/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7rH4gkPhWw/UaNL-MFu5cI/AAAAAAAAEoM/B3k0FcCyBOo/s320/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />We hatched 30 baby chickens in my classroom this year, this is one just hatched in the above picture!<br /><br />Spring has sprung and I couldn't be happier! <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/05/sights-from-this-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-664545014561212484Mon, 27 May 2013 11:20:00 +00002013-05-27T07:20:12.668-04:00Keep It Pithy by Bill O'Reilly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vz0SXZ2cU-4/UaNBRyS-7uI/AAAAAAAAEn0/tJ_Ntxr5JIs/s1600/Pithy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vz0SXZ2cU-4/UaNBRyS-7uI/AAAAAAAAEn0/tJ_Ntxr5JIs/s320/Pithy.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>I am a big fan of anyone who is a straight-shooter, anyone who isn't afraid to tell the truth, or speak their opinion regardless of how popular or unpopular it is.&nbsp; I think this is the predominate reason I really like Bill O'Reilly and after reading several of his books, watching his news program, and even following his Talking Points via email, it all reinforces just how much I agree with many of his viewpoints.<br /><br /><i>Keep It Pithy</i> is a neat book - short, concise, a quick read.&nbsp; It is conversational meaning that O'Reilly is writing like he is having a conversation with you.&nbsp; There are many different examples of how he uses bold and italics changes to emphasize his point or pose a question to the reader.&nbsp; And while I usually find this difficult to read I didn't with this book.&nbsp; It was very simple to follow along and honestly it made me read more quickly because it was broken up into smaller chunks.<br /><br />He makes no apologies and clearly states that this read is entirely based on his opinions and he wants to give readers a clear and pithy summary of his viewpoints.&nbsp; Along with that, he is teaching readers how to keep it pithy in their political conversations.&nbsp; The subtitle states it all, <i>Useful Observations in a Tough World.</i>&nbsp;<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Great Book: 4/5 </b></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/05/keep-it-pithy-by-bill-oreilly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-1670092528803698213Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:40:00 +00002013-04-03T19:41:58.374-04:00Ingenue (Flappers #2) by Jillian Larkin<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNvEyl56E4E/UVy9-iltptI/AAAAAAAAEjI/5Pw5_ZMtG4E/s1600/Ingenue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNvEyl56E4E/UVy9-iltptI/AAAAAAAAEjI/5Pw5_ZMtG4E/s320/Ingenue.jpg" width="212" /></a>The first one was so good I just had to delve into the second.&nbsp; While I appreciate the story continuing, I did find this one a little harder to get through (at least compared to the first.)&nbsp; That being said, I have read a number of reviews that say the second is the slowest - and it wasn't bad by an means, just slow - of all three so I am definitely still looking forward to reading the third, <i>Diva</i>.<br /><br /><i>About the Novel:</i><br /><br />Power . . . love . . . scandal . . .<br />There’s never enough to go around.<br /><br />In the city that never sleeps, Lorraine Dyer is wide awake. Ever since she exposed Clara Knowles for the tramp she was—and lost her closest confidante in the process—Lorraine has spent every second scheming to make her selfish, lovesick ex–best friend pay for what she did. No one crosses Lorraine. Not even Gloria.<br /><br />True love conquers everything—or so Gloria Carmody crazily believed. She and Jerome Johnson can barely scrape together cash for their rent, let alone have a moment to whisper sweet nothings in the dark. And if they thought escaping Chicago meant they’d get away with murder . . . they were dead wrong.<br /><br />Clara was sure that once handsome, charming Marcus Eastman discovered her shameful secret, he’d drop her like a bad habit. Instead, he swept her off her feet and whisked her away to New York. Being with Marcus is a breath of fresh air—and a chance for Clara to leave her wild flapper ways firmly in the past. Except the dazzling parties and bright lights won’t stop whispering her name. . . .<br /><br />INGENUE is the second novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic Flappers series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . where revenge is a dish best served cold.<br /><br /><i>About the Author:</i><br /><br />Jillian Larkin’s fascination with flappers and the 1920s began during her childhood, which included frequent home screenings of the classic Julie Andrews/Carol Channing film Thoroughly Modern Millie. She lives in New York. <br /><br /><i>My Thoughts:</i><br /><br />Let me first say that this cover is the most appealing to me out of all three.&nbsp; I just love how sleek and sophisticated it looks, very much a representation of exactly what comes to mind when I think about the 1920s.<br /><i> </i><br />This novel was a slight bit slower of a read than the first one but it was still a great novel and I was still enveloped right into the 1920s.&nbsp; This novel was set in New York after Gloria and Jerome move away together.&nbsp; An interesting twist was the heavy focus on Lorraine in this novel.&nbsp; She was the center focal point and the entire storyline was told through her viewpoint which I liked.&nbsp; Lorraine is an interesting character and very representative of girls out there who have not yet found their niche and sometimes find themselves sucked into the latest and greatest, even when it isn't good for them.<br /><br />Another interesting part of this novel is the appearance of Gloria's father - he comes in a big way although his role in the second really is just setting it up for his even larger role in the third (the final book opens with a scene involving him and Jerome.)<br /><br />The only part of this novel that I found somewhat hard to wrap my mind around is how Lorraine managed to find graces with the biggest mobster and then be hired to run one of his clubs.&nbsp; I realize she was the bait but it still seemed a little farfetched and her naivety really does shine through as she finds herself in way over her head.<br /><br />The setting is amazing, the fashions fun to imagine and the characters fun to follow, I look forward to seeing what the third and final novel in this series has to offer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/04/ingenue-flappers-2-by-jillian-larkin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-744974266712506037Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:17:00 +00002013-03-26T04:17:10.642-04:00Vixen (Flappers #1) by Jillian Larkin<i>Vixen</i>&nbsp;was chosen as our March young adult read for the teacher book club I belong to - I have to confess, <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yyqWQ7Jp8fQ/UVFYAfwY0SI/AAAAAAAAEiE/IDThi-3dnK4/s1600/Vixen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yyqWQ7Jp8fQ/UVFYAfwY0SI/AAAAAAAAEiE/IDThi-3dnK4/s320/Vixen.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>as I was reading I had to keep reminding myself that these were actually KIDS because much of the lifestyle they are living is very adult, very VERY adult!<br /><br /><i>About the Book:</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.<br /><br />Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?<br /><br />Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .<br /><br />Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .<br /><br />From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFrpnUe9v18/UVFX9LfujeI/AAAAAAAAEh8/QV_02FYZ6Vw/s1600/Jillian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFrpnUe9v18/UVFX9LfujeI/AAAAAAAAEh8/QV_02FYZ6Vw/s320/Jillian.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><i>About the Author:</i><br /><i><br /></i>Jillian Larkin’s fascination with flappers and the 1920s began during her childhood, which included frequent home screenings of the classic Julie Andrews/Carol Channing film Thoroughly Modern Millie. She lives in New York.<br /><br /><i>My Thoughts:</i><br /><i><br /></i>Wow, this book packed a punch! &nbsp;Such a punch that I had to keep reminding myself that it characters were kids! &nbsp;The lifestyle is so adult, which I am sure is accurate for the upper elite in major cities in the 1920s. <br /><br />I couldn't put this book down because it truly kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. &nbsp;Each chapter follows from one of three points of view - Gloria, Clara, or Lorraine. &nbsp;Gloria and Lorraine, best friends forever, have a fledgling relationship that as the girls get older is tested past its breaking point. &nbsp;Clara, Gloria's country cousin who has a secret and sordid past of her own is trying to fit in to the Chicago scene without arousing any suspicion about her past in New York. <br /><br />Throughout book one we follow the girls as they discover the speakeasy scene in Chicago and get caught up in all of its glory...we follow them as they fall into forbidden places both figuratively and literally. &nbsp;The plot line is fast and easy to follow and the characters are charming and have depth to them. &nbsp;But most of all, the setting makes this book - the 1920s are a fascinating time period which provides an amazing backdrop for Jillian Larkin's dynamite series.<br /><br />I am about three-quarters through the second book, review coming soon!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>&nbsp; http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/03/vixen-flappers-1-by-jillian-larkin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-2875784123931705844Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:44:00 +00002013-03-23T11:44:09.657-04:00Dispatches From Bitter America by Todd Starnes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DiWrZuxU-k/UU3NM7_U83I/AAAAAAAAEhM/YHabL42rA38/s1600/bitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DiWrZuxU-k/UU3NM7_U83I/AAAAAAAAEhM/YHabL42rA38/s320/bitter.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>I needed this book - at a time where there seems to be so much going wrong with our country, our world, and our lifestyles in general, it was so comforting to read something so humorous from someone whose beliefs are aligned with my own.<br /><br /><i>About the Book:</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />FOX News Radio reporter Todd Starnes is a self-professed “gun toting, chicken eating son of a Baptist” whose Dispatches from Bitter America is “a collection of stories from my travels across this country (and) conversations I’ve had with regular folks who have deep concerns about the direction we are going as a nation.”<br /><br />In his award-winning, satire-meets-serious writing style, Starnes jumps headfirst into the current culture war, taking on the topics that are dear to every American: religion, health care, freedom, country music, barbeque, and so forth. Along the way, he shares exclusive interviews with political commentator Sean Hannity, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, cooking sensation Paula Deen, and pop singer Amy Grant, always hoping to go from bitter to better.<br /><br /><i>Endorsements:</i><br /><br />"In Dispatches From Bitter America this 'Great American' finds that not only is our American way of life under attack, but also that most Americans do in fact love God, this country, their families, and are anything but bitter!"<br /><br />Sean Hannity, New York Times best-selling author, FOX News host of Hannity<br /><br />"Todd Starnes combines sound research with his signature wit to tell the stories of regular Americans who are standing up to a secular movement that seeks to remove all religious expression from the public square. This is a compelling book that puts our entire existence into the perspective of eternity."<br /><br />Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council<br /><br /><i>About the Author:</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Do1RelwLY/UU3NRQNcsSI/AAAAAAAAEhU/jOAQs8dOdF4/s1600/todd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Do1RelwLY/UU3NRQNcsSI/AAAAAAAAEhU/jOAQs8dOdF4/s1600/todd.jpg" /></a>Todd Starnes is the host of FOX News &amp; Commentary — heard daily on hundreds of radio stations. Throughout his journalism career, Todd has covered a number of high profile stories — taking him from Wall Street to the White House.<br /><br />He is a regular contributor of FOX &amp; Friends and FoxNews.com. He writes a weekly column for Human Events and TownHall.com.<br /><br />Todd is the author of two books. “Dispatches From Bitter America” &nbsp;is a collection of essays detailing how President Obama has declared war on the values that made this country great.<br />The book is endorsed by Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Gretchen Carlson and Mark Levin.<br /><br />“They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick” was published in 2009 and became a best-seller. The book was a collection of humorous and inspirational stories from his open heart surgery in 2005.<br />In his spare time, Todd is active in his church, plays golf, follows SEC football, and eats barbecue.<br /><br /><i>My Thoughts:</i><br /><i><br /></i>Like I said, I needed this book - I needed someone else to reinforce all of these DUMB things happening in our country are just that - DUMB! <br /><br />I needed someone else's fresh and funny perspective about the state of our nation. &nbsp;Todd does that in a way like no one else - in a way that has you laughing your head off but then shaking your head wondering how in the world we got into this mess. <br /><br />Splashed throughout are religious Christian references which I appreciated. &nbsp;He is a Baptist, like me, so I could absolutely relate. <br /><br />I like his writing - and I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends...both liberal and conservative!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>&nbsp; http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/03/dispatches-from-bitter-america-by-todd.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-9187516475684204974Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:14:00 +00002013-03-05T05:16:04.437-05:00Gone Girl by Jillian Flynn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ee4gcYweLcs/UTXDx6qvWZI/AAAAAAAAEXg/BTLSGHyYNYQ/s1600/gone+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ee4gcYweLcs/UTXDx6qvWZI/AAAAAAAAEXg/BTLSGHyYNYQ/s320/gone+girl.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>I wondered how in the world I would start this book review because this book had me gripping my Nook from about page 100 on and I just knew the twists and turns would deem it worthy of a five-star review.&nbsp; And I did indeed give it five stars on Goodreads.&nbsp; However, after pondering the ending and discussing with a few friends I am conflicted.&nbsp; Should you read the book?&nbsp; YES!&nbsp; But there are some things that I had hang-ups with.<br /><b><br /></b><b><i>About the Book:</i></b><br /><br /><i>Marriage can be a real killer.<br /><br />On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?<br /><br />As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?<br /><br />With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around. </i><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br />"Gillian Flynn is the real deal, a sharp, acerbic, and compelling storyteller with a knack for the macabre."<br />–Stephen King<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VI1bXbDHvio/UTXEOt6zH9I/AAAAAAAAEXo/5Gv6XfBuJAs/s1600/gillian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VI1bXbDHvio/UTXEOt6zH9I/AAAAAAAAEXo/5Gv6XfBuJAs/s320/gillian.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Gillian Flynn is an American author and television critic for Entertainment Weekly. She has so far written three novels, Sharp Objects, for which she won the 2007 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for the best thriller; Dark Places; and her best-selling third novel Gone Girl.<br /><br />Her book has received wide praise, including from authors such as Stephen King. The dark plot revolves around a serial killer in a Missouri town, and the reporter who has returned from Chicago to cover the event. Themes include dysfunctional families,violence and self-harm.<br /><br />In 2007 the novel was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Writer, Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie, CWA New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Daggers, winning in the last two categories.<br /><br />Flynn, who lives in Chicago, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated at the University of Kansas, and qualified for a Master's degree from Northwestern University.<br /><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /><br />Well, first of all - THE GIRL CAN WRITE!&nbsp; The story is unbelievable (literally) at times and I wonder what kind of creative genius it takes to come up with a plot and characters like this!<br /><b> </b><br />I was literally gripping the sides of my Nook, furiously flipping pages trying to figure out where in the world this story was going - I had no idea.&nbsp; From about page 160 on there were literally twists and turns and angles that I never could have imagined all the way through the end of the novel.<br /><br />I loved how the author took two characters and made me as a reader figure them out - and then by the end of the novel there were complete 180 degree turns in my thoughts on them.&nbsp; She paints Amy in a way that only someone with a touch of creative genius could.&nbsp; I loved it.<br /><br />My issues are with the language - I get that she was trying to drive the point home about how these characters would have been speaking and thinking in real life but I just felt it unnecessary.&nbsp; The story is a winner, without the frequent cursing.<br /><br />I also had a hard time with the ending - talk about leaving you hanging!&nbsp; I imagine that is because the author has big plans for a sequel so we can find out what becomes of this crazy couple in the future.&nbsp; I sure hope so because there is no way you can figure it out from the way this novel ends!<br /><br />I am a Gillian Flynn fan and I look forward to reading more from her!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/03/gone-girl-by-jilliam-flynn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-6529782575978564377Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:56:00 +00002013-02-24T09:30:30.158-05:00What Color Is Your Wallpaper? by Steven C. Macon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il4bKsmG284/USoIr5QvmlI/AAAAAAAAEQg/WwhOlEZIsw0/s1600/color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il4bKsmG284/USoIr5QvmlI/AAAAAAAAEQg/WwhOlEZIsw0/s320/color.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><i>Look around you. See beyond your noses! What color is your wallpaper? Yes, that’s right, what color is your wallpaper? If I was to ask you right now, without looking, could you tell me what color your wallpaper is? What kind of design it has on it? Wait a minute, you say that’s not fair! You might shout back, “Who cares what color my wallpaper is?” That’s precisely the point. Nobody really cares but you. After all, you or your spouse picked it out. You might have remembered what it looked like the day you picked it out. But what about now, one month later, or perhaps ten years later? How well do you see your surroundings?</i><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVz8-jlrjxU/USoNGanZpII/AAAAAAAAESE/pKmvoTI2ok0/s1600/yos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVz8-jlrjxU/USoNGanZpII/AAAAAAAAESE/pKmvoTI2ok0/s200/yos.jpg" width="200" /></a>Steven C. Macon was born in North Carolina, but spent most of his adult life in the sunny state of Florida. While attending college Steven was involved with many of the campus newspapers and magazines. He worked for a short season as a circus clown and puppeteer. There was another period in his life where Steven spent time jumping out of airplanes for fun. He obtained a Master Skydivers rating while a member of the US Parachute Association. Steven also participated in community theater. One of his major accomplishments was backpacking Yosemite. His hobbies include photography and likes to dabble with painting landscapes, still-life’s and various other sundry subjects. Steven and his wife, Debra, now reside in southwestern Virginia with their four cats.<br /><br />Check out his website <a href="http://stevencmacon.wordpress.com/bio/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br /><b> </b><br /><b> </b><i><b>My Thoughts:</b></i><br /><br />I received this book as a recommendation from my brother-in-law who is a good friend of the author.&nbsp; I appreciate that and the chance to read something by this author - I am a big fan! <br /><br />This book screams wisdom and pay attention to the little things!&nbsp; While I was reading Macon's book, I felt like I was sitting beside an old friend...someone who has been around the block, realized what's important, and then wants to share that wisdom and those life lessons with me.<br /><i><b> </b></i><br /><br />The whole premise behind the book is look around you...pay attention to what you're missing.&nbsp; While we are so caught up in "life" and our image, our appearance to others, there is a whole world right around us that is so much more important.<br /><br />Macon is obviously a Christian and he imparts much of that simple knowledge that we can gain from living in faith and living by the bible on us in this book.&nbsp; It is packed with verses that support his life lessons and it takes you a step further than just reading - it fills you up spiritually and enriches the reading experience by bringing the knowledge right into your lap.<br /><br />Let me share one of my favorite excerpts from this book:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzIgfM6ymac/USoMEyx5ydI/AAAAAAAAER4/lKpdRvGA1us/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uzIgfM6ymac/USoMEyx5ydI/AAAAAAAAER4/lKpdRvGA1us/s200/coffee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>We can approach our lives like a race track.&nbsp; We can be so concerned on speed and getting to the finish line that we fail to see the rest of the track along the way.&nbsp; Let us not be so consumed with the world view of purpose.&nbsp; But let us be consumed with the God-view of purpose.&nbsp; Live life one day at a time.&nbsp; Remember what color your wallpaper is and stop and smell the coffee along the way.&nbsp; When we are young life seems to go on forever.&nbsp; When we are older, life seems too short.&nbsp; We are eternal beings.&nbsp; <b>We will live forever and this is our proving ground </b>(emphasis mine).&nbsp; How you view life, how you view others and your surroundings will determine how you live your life.&nbsp; A steady pace usually wins all races or at least gets you over the finish line.&nbsp; Measure your time and don't let jobs or circumstances rob you of the small things in life.&nbsp; You only have one life and regrets will be minimized if you are not in such a hurry to get to the end of it.</i><br /><br />This book makes you stop...and think.&nbsp; And if you're like me, you need that reminder to slow down every now and then because when we get to the end, we want to remember not to wonder.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-color-is-your-wallpaper-by-steven.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-2943084116071554445Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:23:00 +00002013-02-24T07:23:21.182-05:00Chomp by Carl Hiaasen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmbjPsooFb0/USoF25OOF6I/AAAAAAAAEPA/vj0FIRHhHpQ/s1600/chomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmbjPsooFb0/USoF25OOF6I/AAAAAAAAEPA/vj0FIRHhHpQ/s320/chomp.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>I recently attended a workshop on the amazing 2012 young adult literature that came out - the presenter spend the entire day talking books, what could be better?<br /><br />One of the novels she presented (which made it on her top 15 of 2012 list) was <i>Chomp</i> by Carl Hiaasen.&nbsp; She read an excerpt that was hilarious and it quickly rose to the top of my TBR pile.&nbsp; I settled in on this rainy weekend to read it and boy was it worth it!<br /><br /><b><i>About the Novel:</i></b><br /><br /><i>Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he's grown up with all manner of gators, snakes, parrots, rats, monkeys, snappers, and more in his backyard. The critters he can handle.&nbsp; His father is the unpredictable one.<br /><br />When his dad takes a job with a reality TV show called "Expedition Survival!", Wahoo figures he'll have to do a bit of wrangling himself—to keep his dad from killing Derek Badger, the show's boneheaded star, before the shoot is over. But the job keeps getting more complicated. Derek Badger seems to actually believe his PR and insists on using wild animals for his stunts. And Wahoo's acquired a shadow named Tuna—a girl who's sporting a shiner courtesy of her old man and needs a place to hide out.<br /><br />They've only been on location in the Everglades for a day before Derek gets bitten by a bat and goes missing in a storm. Search parties head out and promptly get lost themselves. And then Tuna's dad shows up with a gun . . .<br /><br />It's anyone's guess who will actually survive "Expedition Survival". . .&nbsp; </i><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">Carl Hiaasen was born and raised in Florida, where he still lives with his family. After graduating from the University of Florida, he began writing for the Miami Herald. As a journalist and author, Carl has spend most of his life advocating the protection of the Florida Everglades. He and his family still live southern Florida.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">Check out a recent interview with the NY Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/carl-hiaasen-by-the-book.html?_r=0" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">&nbsp;<b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FsU5Puefko/USoF7E77L6I/AAAAAAAAEPI/k5tUa8TGC6c/s1600/everglades.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FsU5Puefko/USoF7E77L6I/AAAAAAAAEPI/k5tUa8TGC6c/s320/everglades.png" width="225" /></a></div><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">Plain and simple, this book is adorable!&nbsp; I understand that Mr. Hiaasen's novels all have similar covers and are really eye catching, especially for kids.&nbsp; He is one of those young adult authors who really understands who he is writing for and his novels fit the mold of what a young adult novel should be.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">The setting really adds and element to this story as well - the Florida Everglades.&nbsp; I have read that all of his novels are set there so this makes them all the more appealing in my opinion. </span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178"><br /></span><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">He adds in the perfect mixture of suspense, adventure, and humor and it all fits perfectly together!&nbsp; His witty one-liners are blended in perfectly and throughout the novel I found myself laughing out loud!</span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178"><br /></span><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">I think beyond the plot and humor the characters are what makes this novel.&nbsp; I know Wahoo is the center of the novel but Mickey captured me from the start!&nbsp; I loved his spunk, his no-nonsense attitude and his outlook on life.&nbsp; He is a great role model for not just Wahoo, but Tuna as well.</span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178"><br /></span><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178">This is definitely one I would recommend to my students and children, add it to your collection - it will stay checked out!</span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor8178"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/chomp-by-carl-hiaasen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-5689117307328370310Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:30:00 +00002013-02-19T20:58:57.097-05:00The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5yXl9K8OhVY/USQqHah6dkI/AAAAAAAAENQ/bnkMY-FxfEY/s1600/aviator+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5yXl9K8OhVY/USQqHah6dkI/AAAAAAAAENQ/bnkMY-FxfEY/s320/aviator+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOS_bjCa9pg/USQqXQJDs_I/AAAAAAAAENg/h74aCkXkg7Q/s1600/aviator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOS_bjCa9pg/USQqXQJDs_I/AAAAAAAAENg/h74aCkXkg7Q/s320/aviator.JPG" width="216" /></a><i>For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.<br /><br />Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.<br /><br />Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator’s Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.</i><br /><br />Check out the tour schedule for this book here: <a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/01/05/pump-up-your-book-presents-the-aviators-wife-virtual-book-publicity-tour/" target="_blank">http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/<wbr></wbr>2013/01/05/pump-up-your-book-<wbr></wbr>presents-the-<span class="il">aviators</span>-<span class="il">wife</span>-<wbr></wbr>virtual-book-publicity-tour/</a><br /><br /><b>Praise for the Book:</b><br /><br />“Vivid and mesmerizing, The Aviator’s Wife takes us behind the scenes and into the heart of the <span id="goog_491573485"></span><span id="goog_491573486"></span>woman who loved and married Charles Lindbergh.&nbsp; That was her destiny – a life that took her soaring into the skies and then plunged her to earth, a story of both triumph and pain that will take your breath away.” —Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker<br /><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rORyanLxFNM/USQqrms4bqI/AAAAAAAAENo/pZ-rV1k-QkM/s1600/aviator+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rORyanLxFNM/USQqrms4bqI/AAAAAAAAENo/pZ-rV1k-QkM/s320/aviator+3.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>Melanie Benjamin is the author of the nationally bestselling Alice I Have Been and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb.<br /><br />Her latest book is the historical fiction, The Aviator’s Wife.<br /><br />Benjamin lives in Chicago, where she is at work on her next historical novel.<br /><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /><br />What a beautiful book, from the cover straight through to the writing and the back cover.&nbsp; And what a read! <br /><b> </b><br />The relationship between Charles and Anne is beautifully illustrated in this novel and it truly makes this read worth reading.&nbsp; Good historical fiction places the reader right smack in the middle of the part of history being written about - and you are able to see the events of the time period through a character's eyes and that makes it much more believable and understandable.<br /><br />Melanie's writing is magical and brings these characters to life in a way that only writers of GOOD historical fiction can do.&nbsp; Not only did I enjoy following the relationship, I also loved the history woven in throughout.&nbsp; I learned A LOT, and that is the second goal of this genre.<br /><br />Great book, amazing author and someone to follow!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-aviators-wife-by-melanie-benjamin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-7574100047877558436Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:46:00 +00002013-02-18T21:33:22.651-05:00The Cutest Book Intro I've Read in a Long Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjU2FRgU2pE/USJa4TN-uxI/AAAAAAAAELs/bjUmvCVv_fk/s1600/chomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjU2FRgU2pE/USJa4TN-uxI/AAAAAAAAELs/bjUmvCVv_fk/s320/chomp.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Mickey Cray had been out of work since a dead iguana fell from a palm tree and hit him on the head.<br /><br />The iguana, which had died during a hard freeze, was stiff as a board and weighed seven and a half pounds.&nbsp; Mickey's son had measured the lifeless lizard on a fishing scale, then packed it on ice with the turtle veggies, in the cooler behind the garage.<br /><br />This was after the ambulance had hauled Mickey off to the hospital, where the doctors said he had a serious concussion and ordered him to take it easy.<br /><br />And to everyone's surprise, Mickey did take it easy.&nbsp; That's because the injury had left him with double vision and terrible headaches.&nbsp; He lost his appetite and dropped nineteen pounds and lay around on the couch all day, watching nature programs on television.<br /><br />"I'll never be the same," he told his son.<br /><br />"Knock it off, Pop," said Washoo, Mickey's boy.<br /><br />Mickey had named him after Wahoo McDaniel, a professional wrestler who'd once played linebacker for the Dolphins.&nbsp; Mickey's son often wished he'd been called Mickey Jr. or Joe or even Rupert - anything but Wahoo, which was also a species of saltwater fish.<br /><br />It was a name that was hard to live up to.&nbsp; People naturally expected somebody called Wahoo to act loud and crazy, but that wasn't Wahoo's style.&nbsp; Apparently nothing could be done about the name until he was all grown up, at which point he intended to go to the Cutler Ridge courthouse and tell a judge he wanted to be called something normal.<br /><br />"Pop, you're gonna be okay," Wahoo would tell his father every morning.&nbsp; "Just hang in there."<br /><br />Looking up with hound-dog eyes from the couch, Mickey Cray would say, "Whatever happens, I'm glad we ate that bleeping lizard."<br /><br />On the day his dad had come home from the hospital, Wahoo had defrosted the dead iguana and made a peppercorn stew, which his mom had wisely refused to touch.&nbsp; Mickey had insisted that eating the critter that had dented his skull would be a spiritual remedy.&nbsp; "Big medicine," he'd predicted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12081467-chomp">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12081467-chomp</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-cutest-book-intro-ive-read-in-long.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-822854091864392475Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:30:00 +00002013-02-08T03:30:06.674-05:00The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5db-ifdzAXQ/URRTd8prd9I/AAAAAAAAEIA/jiEzIuwNN0Q/s1600/quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5db-ifdzAXQ/URRTd8prd9I/AAAAAAAAEIA/jiEzIuwNN0Q/s1600/quilt.jpg" /></a></div><i>It is 1863 and Emily Blue Hatchett has been told by her father that, come spring, their family will leave their farm, family and friends in Quincy Illinois and travel the Overland Trail to a new home in Golden, Colorado. Emmy and her mom have mixed feelings about the trip and are saddened by all they must leave behind.<br /><br />When Emmy s grandmother comes to say goodbye, she gives Emmy a special gift, something to occupy her time along the trail.<br /><br />The journey by wagon train is long and full of hardships and Emmy s experiences along the way bring the period of westward expansion, as well as issues facing women, to life for young readers.</i><br /><i><br />New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Sandra Dallas brings her much-admired storytelling talent to middle-grade readers for the first time. She is the author of eleven adult novels as well as ten nonfiction books. Sandra s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award.</i><b> </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br />Award-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qUG8s0arCE/URRTufm_zEI/AAAAAAAAEII/TXMleL5KkBg/s1600/sandra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qUG8s0arCE/URRTufm_zEI/AAAAAAAAEII/TXMleL5KkBg/s1600/sandra.jpg" /></a></div>A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.<br /><br />While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.<br /><br />Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.<br /><br />The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.<br /><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /><br />I thought this was just an adorable story and one that I can wholeheartedly recommend to my younger middle school students without reservation.&nbsp; I have fallen in love with the book, the story, the characters and this author!<br /><br />What I liked most about this book was how perceptive Emmy Blue was.&nbsp; She was such a cute character and I loved that she was so tough on the outside but showed so much vulnerability on the inside.&nbsp; Her story is endearing and readers will connect immediately with her as a character.<br /><br />I think the author peppered JUST enough historical detail in this story to make it interesting.&nbsp; Students studying this time period in history could use this as a great piece of historical fiction to give them a great visual of what life on the trail was like.<br /><br />The only suggestion I would have is that I really needed to hear what became of the little boy who suffered the snake bit and turned back for home.&nbsp; A letter, a package, something to let readers know what became of him!&nbsp; But then again, I am a sucker for a little mystery in a story!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Happy Reading!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-quilt-walk-by-sandra-dallas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-7269700924988849697Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:20:00 +00002013-02-07T20:20:33.776-05:00Every Day by David Levithan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QlpF1Y7UVo/URRSzp5r6mI/AAAAAAAAEH0/Y5wGiE-qTqw/s1600/Every.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QlpF1Y7UVo/URRSzp5r6mI/AAAAAAAAEH0/Y5wGiE-qTqw/s320/Every.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><i>Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.<br /><br />There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.<br /><br />It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.<b> </b></i><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dOahjzIW8R4/URRSvKwSKSI/AAAAAAAAEHs/GvsTyXjsxHU/s1600/David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dOahjzIW8R4/URRSvKwSKSI/AAAAAAAAEHs/GvsTyXjsxHU/s1600/David.jpg" /></a>David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.<br /><br /><i><b>My Thoughts: </b></i><br /><br />I absolutely have a love/hate relationship with this book.&nbsp; I was hanging on every word for a while wanting to figure out what would become of "A" and Rhiannon, but this book took me a few places I am not sure I wanted to go.<br /><br />I love the idea, the concept of waking up as someone different every day.&nbsp; I think the idea is so unique and creative and kudos to the author for making it truly come alive.&nbsp; I also think the author's purpose for this novel is to make the reader think about how truly different we each are and how to appreciate those differences.&nbsp; With "A" waking up each day and experiencing someone totally and completely different he has such a sensitivity to that fact.&nbsp; I loved it...<br /><br />What I didn't like was how different he consistently took the the main character.&nbsp; At times I felt like he put him in certain characters just to make a point instead of intrigue readers.&nbsp; Every other one was someone who was in a morally compromising situation and I really tired of it after a while.<br /><br />I have to tell you that while I completely understood why he ended it the way he did I hated the ending.&nbsp; I love what "A" did for Rhiannon but I didn't like that we didn't find out what became of him...UNLESS, the author is setting "A" up for a sequel.&nbsp; If that's the case, I can overlook what was an extremely frustrating ending for me!<br /><br />I loved the writing style and while this is my first experience with this author I look forward to checking out some of his other work to see if it fits my tastes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/every-day-by-david-levithan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-2630347781297746730Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:29:00 +00002013-02-04T07:35:56.621-05:00My Journey as a Combat Medic by Patrick Thibeault<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aUlJUXuyWA/UQ-pP1x76fI/AAAAAAAAEGE/GtUqClTyd0Y/s1600/patrick+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aUlJUXuyWA/UQ-pP1x76fI/AAAAAAAAEGE/GtUqClTyd0Y/s320/patrick+3.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>First let me say, I am a BIG supporter of our military and absolutely LOVE supporting and showcasing books that are written by our bravest.&nbsp; It is an honor to feature Mr. Thibeault and his amazing novel today, please check it out - it is well worth the read!<br /><br /><em>My Journey as a Combat Medic is a no-holds-barred look at the modern medic in the US Army, allowing us a glimpse at the training as a soldier and as a specialist, as well as deployment and front line duties and the impact of service on civilian life, including an honest look at PTSD, from the author's own personal experience. Rather than a technical manual, My Journey as a Combat Medic is a detailed firsthand account, concluding with a letter to new medics, providing a career's worth of advice and knowledge as they begin their journeys. This book is about the soldiers who bring compassion and humanity to the battlefield.</em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Description of My Journey As a Combat Medic:<br />Publisher: Osprey Publishing, July 24, 2012<br />Category: Military Medic, Memoir<br />Tour Dates: January, 2013<br />Available in: PDF, Kindle , 176 pages</strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Praise for My Journey as a Combat Medic:</strong><br />"Outstanding!&nbsp;&nbsp; This book is an easy read and is not your typical war book. The author does an incredible job of showing the reader just how he was able to bring a sense of decency and respect and compassion to the battle zone. I highly recommend this book!"- Cafeguy, Amazon.com Reviewer<br /><br />" I knew I would enjoy this book from the very first page when Author Patrick Thibeault described jumping off an airplane as a paratrooper.&nbsp; Then reading about him being a medic, training, traveling all over the world! It's inspiring. It's short, to the point, with stories of experience and emotion rather than historical facts and war strategies. Thibeault writes what he saw, felt, heard. He manages to add light touches of humor during not so humorous circumstances. It's very personal. I couldn't put his book down, finishing in just a couple hours. It's a beautifully written book about a modern day hero."- Cher, Goodreads.com Reviewer<br /><br />" Patrick Thibeault, a retired US Army Sergeant, offers a candid and, for the most part, positive description of his 20 years as a combat medic. With common sense and compassion, he did his best to heal the injured - ally and enemy alike. In retirement now, he endures a constant struggle with PTSD but has found some positive therapy in his pets - a dog and 2 cats. This book is a good read."- Maria, Goodreads.com Reviewer</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dslSIgcKVJA/UQ-pUZsveBI/AAAAAAAAEGM/cLk21pf6yu8/s1600/patrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="155" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dslSIgcKVJA/UQ-pUZsveBI/AAAAAAAAEGM/cLk21pf6yu8/s320/patrick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">About Patrick Thibeault:<br /><br />Patrick Thibeault was raised as an Army brat. He lived in Germany, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Fayetteville, North Carolina and his father was stationed in Seoul, South Korea where he attended Seoul American High School and graduated in 1989. During his time in Korea, Patrick watched several of the Olympic games in person as they were in Seoul, South Korea in 1988. He grew to respect and understand the different cultures he encountered.<br /><br />Upon graduation from high school, Patrick enlisted in the Army becoming a paratrooper medic. The first unit that he was assigned to was the elite 3rd Battalion / 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Patrick deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm back in 1990. During his tenure with the 160th, Patrick had the opportunity to grow both as a soldier and as a medic. He attended SERE school (Survival training), went to Army enlisted flight medic school at Fort Rucker, and attended Primary Leadership training at Fort Stewart, Georgia among other types of military training. He deployed both stateside and overseas with the 160th and even spent some time on the USS. Theodore Roosevelt. During his time with the 160th, he was on both on enlisted crewmember flight status and parachute status.<br />.<br />He then joined the Kentucky Army National Guard. Patrick deployed twice to Ecuador during his time with the Kentucky Army National Guard. He continued to grow in the medical field and nursing field and started nursing school at Eastern Kentucky University. Patrick's first job as a nurse was as a registered nurse in Indianapolis,Indiana. Patrick transferred to the Indiana Army National Guard where in 2000, his entire brigade travelled to Fort Polk, Louisiana to participate in the combat simulations at the Joint Readiness Training Center or JRTC.<br /><br />He graduated with his bachelor's degree in nursing in May 2003 from Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2004, he deployed with his unit, the 76th Infantry Brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His unit was part of Task Force Phoenix. This task force trained the conventional Afghanistan Army and had soldiers embedded into these Afghanistan units both during training and combat operations. Patrick worked briefly as a liaison for Task Force Phoenix at Bagram Airbase before going back out into the deserts of Afghanistan to serve as a medic.<br /><br />Patrick started on his master's degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner upon returning from combat in 2005. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in December, 2008. Patrick then transferred to the 138th Field Artillery Brigade, part of the Kentucky Army National Guard, where he remained till he retired in January, 2011. Patrick currently works part time in a medical intensive care unit part time as a registered nurse and works full time in a urgent and primary care clinic as a Family Nurse Practitioner.<br /><br />Hobbies include Corvettes,writting poetry, working out, Star Trek, and reading medical books. He is married to his wife Connie. They have a dog named Rocco and two cats named Savannah and Georgia. He named his cats after the beautiful city of Savannah and the other cat after the state of Georgia when he was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, in Savannah,Georgia.<br /><br />His awards and decorations include the Combat Medical Badge, 2nd award from both Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. The Meritorious Service Medical from Afghanistan, the Air Medal from Desert Storm. Patrick also has earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, parachute wings, and the enlisted crewmember aviation wings.<br /><br />Currently Patrick is working on a book of combat medic poetry, a book about working as a nurse and a nurse practitioner from the perspective of a man and a fictional book about a time travelling medical provider who gets stuck in the past while trying to learn medicine and nursing and working on his website at <a href="http://www.medicstory.com/">http://www.medicstory.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6QO4gyVymt4/UQ-pXjw9nrI/AAAAAAAAEGU/2PTk1oCiJCo/s1600/patrick+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="103" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6QO4gyVymt4/UQ-pXjw9nrI/AAAAAAAAEGU/2PTk1oCiJCo/s320/patrick+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">﻿My Thoughts:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like I mentioned above, I am a huge supporter of our military - patriotism was instilled in me at a very young age and there is no job more important in my book.&nbsp; I am honored to feature this book and author today on the blog, his book is amazing and well worth the read!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What I loved most about this book was the look I got as a reader at just what goes into this heroic job.&nbsp; The author is dynamic in his decsriptions of what the warzone is like and how essential a combat medic's role is to those there.&nbsp; I loved that he showed how such a raw and real role can be transformed in the approach - how despite such difficult circumstances, a combat medic can still bring a human touch to what he is dealing with.&nbsp; That is the true human spirit at its finest.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />To me, part of the healing process when you have been in such a place dealing with war front and center is to process those experiences by putting pen to paper.&nbsp; I am thankful that Mr. Thibeault did just that and it is a great example of what our bravest go through to protect us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Thanks for the look inside Patrick, I enjoyed every single minute.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-journey-as-combat-medic-by-patrick.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-5884418238890748155Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +00002013-01-31T03:00:08.813-05:00Deep Connections by Rebecca Graf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tT1cq91yDWg/UQmfyyiZreI/AAAAAAAAED4/4w1Z6FMLOKk/s1600/virtual+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tT1cq91yDWg/UQmfyyiZreI/AAAAAAAAED4/4w1Z6FMLOKk/s320/virtual+2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><i>Publisher: Silver Tongue Press, August 23, 2012<br />Category: Paranormal/Suspense/Romance<br />Tour Dates: January, 2013<br />Available in: Print, PDF, and Kindle , 298 pages</i><br /><br /><i>Deep Connections is the story of a woman who finds herself caught in a love-triangle with a stalker closing in on her. Brenna sees herself just as a high school English teacher. Slaton sees her as his soulmate. Eaton sees her as a serious girlfriend. To someone in the shadows, she is the fulfillment of a prophecy. Through her, he will exact his revenge. Through her, he will conquer those around him. Someone has to die in order for him to have her. Brenna has to make a decision that will forever change of life and that of everyone around her.<br /><br /><b>&nbsp;</b></i><b>Praise for Deep Connections:</b><br /><br />&nbsp;" Deep Connections is a riveting romantic suspense thriller that will captivate you from the beginning and hold you captive until the end. If you like a scary novel with a twist of paranormal and romance in the mix, then this is the book for you. This is the first book in a series, and the end will leave you hanging and wanting more, only to make you wait for it to be continued in the next book of the series, Dark Connections."- Kathleen Higgins-Anderson, Jersey Girl Book Reviews<br /><br />&nbsp;" Deep Connection is a unique thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. Who is stalking Brenna and why? As the layers of mystery unfold, you will be pulled into the twists and turns Ms. Graf has so wonderfully written. Wrapped around the mystery is a love triangle between Brenna, the cute sheriff's deputy and the handsome Native American lawyer. Who will win her heart and save her from the evil stalking her? Read the book and find out. I had a hard time putting this one down. I am waiting for the sequel as I am sure it will also be a fantastic read."- Marianne Spitzer, Goodreads.com Reviewer<br /><br />&nbsp;" This is not a story to read by yourself at night, in a dark and quiet house. Believe me, I tried it, and I actually got a little nervous. It has a good amount of suspense and scariness, and I just couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened. "-Monica, The Readathon<br /><br />&nbsp;" This was one of those books that I read in 2 days when I could steal time away from life. And when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about when I'd be able to get back to reading it.&nbsp; The biggest disappointment, however, comes at the VERY end: When I discovered the story will continue in "Dark Connections" and that I have to wait for it to be released Winter 2013-2013! I want it NOW!"-L. Ocko, Amazon.com Reviewer<i> </i><br /><i><br /></i><i><b>About the Author:</b></i><br /><i><b>&nbsp;</b></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQXkgadU380/UQmgSGb4lXI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/MjRI3taq7vY/s1600/aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQXkgadU380/UQmgSGb4lXI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/MjRI3taq7vY/s320/aa.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>Rebecca Graf is a wife and mother of three when she is not writing. From writing online for various companies to book reviews to her own novels, Rebecca spends most of her days reading and writing.<br /><br />She worked as an accountant for 20 years before taking a chance and trying to make it as a writer. She has been published on sites such as BellaOnline.com, HubPages, and Natural Family Today. She also freelances where she writes for several different companies.<br /><br />She is an avid reader and has found a love of writing all types of genres. She self-published her first children's book, A Gift for a Mouse two years ago. Since then, she has started her own publishing company with a friend. Deep Connections is their first publication.<i><br /><br />Website: <a href="http://www.rebeccagraf.com/">www.rebeccagraf.com</a><br />Twitter: @rebeccagraf<br />Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RebbecaGraf">http://www.facebook.com/RebbecaGraf</a></i><br /><b> </b><br /><b>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What inspired you to write your first book?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />I had always felt an urge to write, but it wasn’t until I had a dream that kept occurring that I began to write just to get it out of my head. It was driving me crazy. It wasn’t a big dream or extra special, but it kept bothering me. From there it developed into a story.<br /><br /><b>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you have a specific writing style?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />My friends tell me I’m big on suspense. I like to drop hints but never really tell the reader what is going to happen next. My love is cliffhangers which I hate to read but sure love to write. <br /><br /><b>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How did you come up with the title?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />I was playing along with a title with a friend and we kept saying, “They have a deep connection.” Finally, it hit us that we had to go with that title.<br /><br /><b>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />That love of family can be strong. Family doesn’t have to be blood related. It is the ones who are there for you and will risk their lives. That is what happens with Brenna. She has many who would give up their lives for her.<br /><br /><b>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How much of the book is realistic?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Mmmmm. That’s a good question and hard to answer. I think a deep love is realistic. I think finding people who love you is realistic. The rest is way out there.<br /><br /><b>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Nothing personal really is in the story. Some mannerisms come from me or my husband but overall everything is completely from my imagination.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbC7GD-I7E/UQmgaLiI3VI/AAAAAAAAEEY/0n25YSV1umo/s1600/virtual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbC7GD-I7E/UQmgaLiI3VI/AAAAAAAAEEY/0n25YSV1umo/s320/virtual.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What books have most influenced your life most?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />I think C.S. Lewis’ work has been huge. His works, even the fiction ones, are so deep and thought-provoking. My favorite author growing up was Nancy Keene of the Nancy Drew series. From her I discovered an intense love of reading.<br /><br /><b>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?</b><br /><br />Oh, my. That could really vary, but I have to admit that I have found Sophia Knightly to be one. I love her work and her writing style. I can go to her with questions and she is willing to take the time to work with an amateur.<br /><br /><b>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What book are you reading now?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />I’ve got a ton of books I need to review. There are literally hundreds of them sitting on my shelf. So, I really can’t answer that aside from my school books. <br /><b><br />10. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Oh, yes. I guess it depends on what you mean by new. If you mean new to me, then oh my yes. Aiden James is one of them. I love his work and he keeps me hooked. Lauren Carr is another one I am in love with. Marianne Spritzer is a great one that I’ve become good friends with, and so many more that I can’t name them all. <br /><b><br />11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What are your current projects?&nbsp;</b><br /><br />I am working on the sequel to Deep Connections. Dark Connections should be out in a couple of months. The very first draft of the third book is done but needs a million tons of work. In addition to that, I’m working on a couple of others including a couple of romantic thrillers and a comedy. With a friend of mine, we are writing a fantasy story that should be out this year, too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/deep-connections-by-rebecca-graf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-8610787352367596547Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:00:00 +00002013-01-31T02:00:04.269-05:00City of Gods: The Descendant by S.J. McMillan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VdY-yXELVG8/UQmh8LkTzpI/AAAAAAAAEEg/xVfQxplxcxo/s1600/city.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VdY-yXELVG8/UQmh8LkTzpI/AAAAAAAAEEg/xVfQxplxcxo/s320/city.png" width="320" /></a></div><i>In 700 A.D. Teotihuacan, Mexico, the High Priest believed himself to be a powerful as the gods. He set a plague on the city as a demonstration of his power. The Gods took pity on the remaining loyal congregation. They granted each survivor immortality and an extraordinary ability. Three loyal survivors were given a mission of great importance: train the lone human descendant of their civilization to stop the evil priest from damning the rest of humanity.</i><br /><i><br />Now in San Diego, California, the time has come to finally make Katalina Deckard aware of her destiny. Her life has been a constant struggle since the loss of her parents when she was young. These struggles have made her a fighter, but she doesn’t believe they have prepared her to save the world. Her friends, who have survived for so long, must convince her that she has what it takes to accept the mantle of the Redeemer.</i><br /><br />Release Date: November 16th, 2012<br />Genre: Urban fantasy<br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></b><br /><b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> </b><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I live in Southwest Missouri with my super supportive husband and our three energetic young rascals. I work as an administrative assistant during the week. Now I get to add published author to my list of roles I play in life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqfbQlUH5DQ/UQmiAgYxfOI/AAAAAAAAEEo/Ec0Kk8DX0n8/s1600/city+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqfbQlUH5DQ/UQmiAgYxfOI/AAAAAAAAEEo/Ec0Kk8DX0n8/s320/city+2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Being an author was not my first career choice. In my younger years I wanted to be a dancer, but dance lessons are expensive! I also wanted to be Dolly Parton from The Best Little Whore House in Texas. I could really belt out Itty Bitty Piss Ant Country Place, just ask my parents, or their former neighbors.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">After a slew of other interesting job choices, I just could not shake the writing bug I picked up in high school. I started writing poetry and still write a poem whenever inspiration hits me. I also love to read, especially paranormal romances and urban fantasies. The love of reading is what spawned the desire to try my hand at writing a novel of my very own.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love creating the characters and giving them their own personalities and voices. I have also come to enjoy writing fight scenes. My husband (the wonderful man that he is) will act them out with me so I know exactly how I need to show it to the audience. Call us crazy if you like, but it's really fun to act out a scene using a broom handle as a spear and a foam baseball bat as an axe.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope you enjoy City of the Gods: The Descendant. The second book of the trilogy is being edited and I’m working on the third and final book now. I love to hear from fellow authors and readers. You can find me on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mcmillansj">www.facebook.com/mcmillansj</a>, on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mcmillansj">www.twitter.com/mcmillansj</a>, or swing by my website at <a href="http://www.mcmillansj.com/">www.mcmillansj.com</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Excerpt:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><i>“Who did this?” Tristan asked quietly, almost more to himself than to Kat.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />“Probably that bastard Ryan. He is going to pay for every last thing he demolished,” Kat replied, assuming Tristan was speaking about the chaos throughout the rest of the house. She stepped forward and looked around the room once more. It was then that she noticed the black flowers sitting on her dresser. Kat walked over and pulled the small white card from them. She opened the envelope to reveal a card with a beautiful picture of the same flower in white. Tristan came to stand behind her as she opened the card. It was a simple message, but one she would not soon forget.<br />I am coming for you.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />Tristan plucked the card from her hand and reread it. Kat stood frozen in place, shocked and confused. Her mind raced with unanswerable questions. Who was coming for her? What did they want from her? Was this actually some sick joke Ryan was playing or was someone really coming to get her? Her stomach churned and her head began to pound. She doubled over in pain while fear of the unknown trespasser flooded her brain. It was all too overwhelming.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />Kat hugged her arms around her stomach. Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees on the floor. A cold sweat broke on her forehead. Kat was almost glad when black spots started to swim in her vision. She tried to ask Tristan for help, but she could not find her voice. Dizziness engulfed her, and she felt herself begin to fall the rest of the way to the floor. Tristan caught her just before her head and the floor collided. She could barely hear his concerned voice calling her name as the blackness surrounded her.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />“Katalina, open your eyes.” Tristan shook her a bit, hoping she would regain consciousness. Sabine and Vivian had heard the commotion, rushed into the room, and directly to Kat’s side. To Tristan’s great relief, Katalina’s eyes opened a crack, enough to see the intensely harsh gaze she gave him. Tristan looked to the girls, who looked equally surprised by her reaction. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />“Katalina?” Tristan questioned. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />“Leave her alone,” Katalina responded and her nearly black eyes closed once again.</i><br />&nbsp;</div><b>&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/city-of-gods-descendant-by-sj-mcmillan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-6499960736983857653Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:15:00 +00002013-01-29T20:15:17.973-05:00The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw6ND6CuX7k/UQhzsVVZ45I/AAAAAAAAECM/pE8b5WsOs1Q/s1600/fault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xw6ND6CuX7k/UQhzsVVZ45I/AAAAAAAAECM/pE8b5WsOs1Q/s320/fault.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>Well, this book really did achieve everything I thought it was going to - it has an amazing storyline, believable characters, a setting that is realistic, emotions that tug at your heart, wit that has you laughing out loud, and an ending that is filled with real and raw emotion.<br /><br />I was laughing, I was crying, and I was wondering how in the world I would survive once I turned the last page.&nbsp; These characters became my friends, my closest pals while I was reading and I didn't want their journey to end.<br /><br />The emotions dealt with in this novel are real and it is refreshing to see an author portray such an honest and heartfelt approach to cancer and all of its terrible side effects.&nbsp; I thought his treatment of a delicate topic was such a good approach.<br /><br />Beyond the obvious issue of cancer and sickness the underlying theme here is friendship, love and how when we least expect it our lives can be interrupted in a great or sometimes not so great way - Hazel Grace sure found that out when she met Augustus.&nbsp; Issac sure found that out when he had his sight taken from him and Hazel's parents realized that as they watched their daughter deal with her own limitations as well as those of Augustus.<br /><br />I can't recommend this book enough, it will really be worth your while to pick it up - I would however say that I think it is appropriate for high school students and adults.<br /><br /><i>About the Book:</i><br /><br /><i>Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.<br /><br />Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.<br /><br />Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.</i><br /><br />About the Author:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5GAU-_3wrc/UQh0Er_T0LI/AAAAAAAAECU/mWfBnJouGjI/s1600/john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5GAU-_3wrc/UQh0Er_T0LI/AAAAAAAAECU/mWfBnJouGjI/s1600/john.jpg" /></a></div>John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.<br /><br />In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-1770284239625889805Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +00002013-01-23T03:00:01.100-05:00Leaves by Michael Baron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zmE4GU6fQtw/UP8haPm4QSI/AAAAAAAAD_M/0azDP_imeUc/s1600/leaves+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zmE4GU6fQtw/UP8haPm4QSI/AAAAAAAAD_M/0azDP_imeUc/s1600/leaves+banner.jpg" /></a></div><i>Welcome to Oldham, CT, a small town rich in Colonial heritage while being utterly contemporary. Situated along the Connecticut River Valley, Oldham bursts with color every fall, as the leaves on its trees evolve into an unmatched palette of scarlet, orange, purple, yellow, and bronze. For more than three decades, the Gold family has been a central part of Oldham in the fall, its Sugar Maple Inn a destination for “leaf-peepers” from all over the country, and its annual Halloween party a stirring way to punctuate the town’s most active month.</i><br /><i><br />But this year, more than just the leaves are changing. With the death of their parents, the Gold siblings, Maria, Maxwell, Deborah, Corrina, and Tyler, have decided to sell the Sugar Maple Inn, and this year’s Halloween party will be the last. As October begins, the Golds contend with the finality that faces them, and the implications it has for a family that has always been so close. For some, it means embracing new challenges and new love. For others, it means taking on unimagined roles. And for others, it means considering the inconceivable. Complicating it all is a series of “hauntings” that touch each of the Gold siblings, a series of benign interventions that will remain a mystery until October draws to a close.</i><br /><i><br />Filled with romance, tension, and unforgettable family drama, LEAVES is the first in a series of novels about a world and a family that readers will want to make their own.</i> <br /><br /><u><b>About the Author:</b></u><br /><br />I grew up in the New York area and I’ve lived there my entire life. I worked in retail and taught high school English before I got my first book contract. I have gotten several additional book contracts since then, which is fortunate because I didn’t have the patience to work in retail and, while I quite enjoyed teaching, my approach was a bit too unconventional for most school systems. One school administrator told me that, “there are more important things than being a dynamic teacher.” Since I couldn’t name any of those things (at least in the context of school), I figured I didn’t have a long-term future in the profession. Hence, I became a writer, where I believe people appreciate a certain level of dynamism.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAPeCJ5PshY/UP8hnP4XmFI/AAAAAAAAD_U/5_VsIDyVmPU/s1600/leaves.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAPeCJ5PshY/UP8hnP4XmFI/AAAAAAAAD_U/5_VsIDyVmPU/s320/leaves.png" width="195" /></a><br />Though I started with nonfiction, I have always loved fiction and I have always wanted to write it. Since I can remember, I've had a particular affection for love stories. In fact, the very first book-length thing I ever wrote, when I was thirteen, was a love story. Mind you, it was the kind of love story that a thirteen-year-old boy would write, but it was a love story nonetheless. I have a deep passion for writing about relationships – family relationships, working relationships, friendships, and, of course, romantic relationships – and I can only truly explore this by writing fiction. These novels have given me a way to voice the millions of things running through my head.<br /><br />My wife and kids are the center of my life. My wife is the inspiration for all of my love stories and my children enthrall me, challenge me, and keep me moving (and have served as the inspiration for several of the kids I've written about). One of the primary reasons I wrote my first novel, WHEN YOU WENT AWAY was that I wanted to write about being a father. Aside from my family, I have a few other burning passions. I’m a pop culture junkie with an especially strong interest in music, I love fine food (as well as any restaurant shaped like a hot dog), and I read far too many sports blogs for my own good. <br /><br />PUBLISHED BY: The Story Plant<br />PUBLICATION DATE: September 25, 2012<br />ISBN: 978-0-9841905-4-6 (978-1-61188-011-3)<br />GENRE: Fiction<br /># OF PAGES: 332 <br /><br /><u><b>My Thoughts:</b></u><br /><br />What a book!&nbsp; This one really captured my heart and is a great example of why reading is so much fun.&nbsp; These characters, all siblings who have come back to run Sugar Maple Inn (temporarily) as they decide to sell the family cornerstone.&nbsp; To kick off the big changes coming their way they decide to host one last Halloween party.<br /><br />This novel is about more than just one inn, one family or one celebration - it is about relationships and those "things" that touch all of our lives.&nbsp; It is a novel about change and the sometimes heavy issues that come with it.&nbsp; It is a novel about holding on to those things that are important while embracing the change that is destined to come.<br /><br />As a reader you really fall in love with the characters - they become a part of your life and you feel like you are right there with them at the Sugar Maple Inn.&nbsp; It is a story with rich history and depth and I thoroughly enjoyed it!<br /><br />I hope that this makes it on your TBR list, it is a quick read but one that is worth every single minute of your time!<br /><br /><u><b>Book Excerpt:</b></u><br /><br />The River Edge Café had been open for business since the late ‘90s, when a husband-and-wife team made a killing during the tech stock boom and decided to “chuck it all” and follow their passion for fine food. Located on the water between Oldham and Essex, it was popular for its ambitious menu, its beautiful setting, and its attentive staff. However, it had recently lost two executive chefs in quick succession, leading to rumors that the owners were impossible taskmasters and maybe even a little abusive. Deborah didn’t necessarily believe these unfounded stories, but they made her wary through the entire interview process, and even now, in her third meeting with the couple, she wondered if there was something less than genuine behind Carla Bonner’s ubiquitous smile or Vince Travers’s persistence.<br /><br />“We want you here, Deb,” Vince said. People didn’t really call her “Deb,” but Vince seemed to insist on it. He had been doing so since they first met half a decade ago. “There are maybe two dishes on the menu we think we need to keep. The entire rest of the menu would be yours.”<br /><br />“It would be like having your own restaurant without the hassle of ownership,” Carla said. Deborah had been in precisely that situation her entire adult life, so she wasn’t sure why Carla thought this was a selling point.<br /><br />“I’m completely willing to wait until the middle of November if you want to take a couple of weeks off between jobs,” Vince said. “Trina’s an excellent sous chef and she’s doing a great job of holding the fort for us. To be honest, if we weren’t so intent on recruiting you, we’d give her the job right now.”<br /><br />“That’s very flattering,” Deborah said, wondering how resentful Trina would be of her if she decided to take the position.<br /><br />This wasn’t the first offer Deborah had received, though it was certainly the most aggressive. She got a couple of calls as soon as word got out about the sale of the Inn. The people buying the Sugar Maple even made her an extremely attractive offer to stay precisely where she was. She never seriously considered it, though. It was hard enough cooking there now that both of her parents were gone. It would be impossible to take direction there from someone else and even harder to watch the inevitable changes they made. Deborah imagined herself collapsing into tears the first time they replaced a table lamp. She was convinced that when she walked out of the Inn at the end of the Halloween party she would never again set foot in the place just so she could remember it forever the way she wanted.<br /><br />None of the offers she’d received so far had seemed very appealing. She knew that she was running the risk of seeming like a prima donna and she also knew that she should be eternally grateful for the attention, but she couldn’t allow herself to take a position unless it sang out to her. She even considered trying to find a job in a diner or a coffee shop somewhere – something completely one-dimensional with little or no room for personal investment – just to recalibrate. But of course that was ridiculous. How long could she flip burgers before she started slipping exotic ingredients into the ground beef? She had enough money saved to get by for about six months, and if it took that long to find the right spot, that was fine with her.<br /><br />“I’m not trying to flatter you,” Vince said. “I’m trying to employ you. Your customers will flatter you every time the waitstaff delivers one of your inventions.”<br /><br />Deborah smiled. The “Deb” thing aside, she’d always liked Vince and she wished the rumors weren’t causing her to question his sincerity. That was the pernicious thing about rumors.<br /><br />“The package you’re offering is great,” she said, nodding to both Vince and Carla. “I’ve always been fond of this restaurant, and you have a great kitchen. I just need a couple of days.”<br /><br />“Of course,” Carla said. “Take as long as you must.”<br /><br />Vince patted her hand. “We’re here for you, Deb. Call me anytime if you have questions. I gave you our home number, right?”<br /><br />“You did, yes. I just want to take a little longer to think. I’ll call you on Monday.”<br /><br />Deborah stood and shook their hands. The fact was, she already made her decision, but it didn’t seem polite to turn them down flat. The River Edge Café was a fine restaurant and it did have a sensational kitchen. The more time she spent there, though, she realized there wasn’t anything about this place that felt like home.<br /><br />She drove through downtown Oldham on the way back to the inn. Waiting for a couple of pedestrians to cross Hickory, she noticed the sign for Sage, the gourmet shop that had opened a couple of weeks earlier. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t visited it yet. When a car pulled out of the parking space across from the store, she decided the time was right. The store was in a moderately large space between a music store and a bookstore. Deborah had a hard time remembering what was in the space before (there had been several shops there over the past few years), but the new owner had done a great job of remodeling it. Lots of blond wood fixtures, warm lighting, and handwritten signage. There was a refrigerator case housing artisanal cheeses and sausages in understated, small-production packages.<br /><br />Deborah liked being here immediately. Maybe it was the slack-key guitar music coming from the sound system or that one of the front tables was dedicated to the small Tuscan pasta manufacturer she “discovered” a couple of years ago and had used exclusively at the inn ever since. Deborah knew this would be a place she’d visit often. She’d been to all the gourmet shops in the area, and was frustrated by the sameness of them. It was almost as though some food rep came along and set each one up based on some model. This place had a decidedly individual point of view, though. The shelf of spices was an asymmetrical jumble of bottles and tins of different sizes. Next to it was a card that read, “This might not be the prettiest display of spices you’ve ever seen, but it’s hopefully the best. I’ve compared everything on this shelf to the competition and only carry the ones I love the most.” Deborah agreed about the mustard seed, the ground coriander, and the smoked paprika, but she would have chosen a different Telicherry peppercorn.<br /><br />A man walked up to her while she was standing at the display. “Find anything you like?”<br /><br />She turned to look at him. He was a little over six feet and lean. And he had very expressive eyes.<br />“Krendahl has better peppercorns,” she said.<br /><br />“You’re right, but they only sell from their catalog. I tried, believe me. They also import this fabulous five spice powder, but again, I couldn’t get it. Think I should change the card in the spirit of full disclosure?”<br /><br />Deborah laughed. “Your secret is safe with me. You’re the owner?”<br /><br />He extended his hand and Deborah took it. “Sage Mixon.”<br /><br />“Deborah Gold. So the store is named after you and not after” – she reached for a bottle – “Brookfield’s hand-rubbed Albanian.”<br /><br />He smiled. “You obviously know your spices. Are you in the food business?”<br /><br />“I’m the chef at the Sugar Maple Inn – at least I am until the end of the month.”<br /><br />“Moving on to bigger and better things?”<br /><br />Deborah rolled her eyes. “That part isn’t at all certain at the moment.” She turned toward another display. “I’ve never seen these preserves before.”<br /><br />“They’re incredible. They’re all made by a single dad out of a barn in New Hampshire. He sweetens them with a ‘proprietary blend’ of fruit juices and balances each with some kind of spice or infusion. The lemon marmalade is mind-boggling.” He picked up a jar and handed it to her. “He adds a touch of Thai basil. It’s amazing what happens.”<br /><br />Deborah examined the jar in her hand. If nothing else, Sage was an excellent salesman. Of course she would buy this. Before she did, though, she spent another half hour in the store walking from display to display. Sage stayed with her when he wasn’t helping other customers, and it became obvious that there was a story behind everything he carried. She hoped the visitors who flitted in and out appreciated the thought that went into this. More importantly, she hoped that – appreciative or not – the visitors were plentiful. Oldham needed more stores like this one.<br /><br />By the time she’d finished shopping, Deborah had the marmalade, a salsa from Nogales, a bottle of raspberry thyme vinegar made a half hour away, and a package of stroopwafels made in Montana, of all places. She didn’t need any of it. She certainly had access to just about everything she wanted from the network of suppliers she’d developed over the years. But it was fun buying here and she definitely wanted to support the place.<br /><br />“Come again soon,” Sage said as he packaged her purchases. “I will. Definitely. Hey, come by the Inn for dinner sometime in the next month.”<br /><br />“I might just do that. I mean if you know this much about food, you might actually be able to cook.”<br />Deborah laughed. “Yeah, it’s a possibility.”<br /><br />He smiled and his eyes danced. Deborah would definitely be back soon.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/leaves-by-michael-baron.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-7349481578118057603Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +00002013-01-14T03:00:05.967-05:00Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5w_QlfIjR4/UPNyFytMLXI/AAAAAAAAD7g/qpaMXXBneHE/s1600/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5w_QlfIjR4/UPNyFytMLXI/AAAAAAAAD7g/qpaMXXBneHE/s320/banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>1867 . . . Southern lawyer and Civil War veteran, Reed Jackson, returns to his family’s plantation in a wheelchair. His father deems him unfit, and deeds the Jackson holdings, including his intended bride, to a younger brother. Angry and bitter, Reed moves west to Fenton, Missouri, home to a cousin with a successful business, intending to start over.<br /><br />Belle Richards, a dirt poor farm girl aching to learn how to read, cleans, cooks and holds together her family’s meager property. A violent brother and a drunken father plot to marry her off, and gain a new horse in the bargain. But Belle’s got other plans, and risks her life to reach them.<br /><br />Reed is captivated by Belle from their first meeting, but wheelchair bound, is unable to protect her from violence. Bleak times will challenge Reed and Belle's courage and dreams as they forge a new beginning from the ashes of war and ignorance.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reconstructing-Jackson-ebook/dp/B009LMKGUW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1349389500&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Reconstructing+jackson" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reconstructing-jackson-holly-bush/1113387649?ean=9781624880445" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reconstructing-jackson/id567298548?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a><i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reconstructing-jackson/id567298548?mt=11" target="_blank"> </a></i></div><br />About the Author:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dfMoT1ECLQ/UPNyJhQehKI/AAAAAAAAD7o/smQYSKfXkdU/s1600/author.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dfMoT1ECLQ/UPNyJhQehKI/AAAAAAAAD7o/smQYSKfXkdU/s320/author.JPG" width="311" /></a></div>Holly Bush was born in western Pennsylvania to two avid readers. There was not a room in her home that did not hold a full bookcase. She worked in the hospitality industry, owning a restaurant for twenty years and recently worked as the sales and marketing director in the hospitality/tourism industry and is credited with building traffic to capacity for a local farm tour, bringing guests from twenty-two states, booked two years out. Holly has been a marketing consultant to start-up businesses and has done public speaking on the subject.<br /><br />Holly has been writing all of her life and is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, particularly political and historical works. She has written four romance novels, all set in the U.S. West in the mid 1800’s. She frequently attends writing conferences, and has always been a member of a writer’s group.<br /><br />Holly is a gardener, a news junkie, and was the vice-president of her local library board for years. She loves to spend time near the ocean and is the proud mother of two daughters and the wife of a man more than a few years her junior.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hollybushbooks.com/" target="_blank">Author Website</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hollybushbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holly-Bush/247399131941435" target="_blank">Facebook</a> - <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16067757-reconstructing-jackson?auto_login_attempted=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yyfbFtW2KM/UPNyOtHU5YI/AAAAAAAAD7w/X7h-6dax3HE/s1600/book.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yyfbFtW2KM/UPNyOtHU5YI/AAAAAAAAD7w/X7h-6dax3HE/s320/book.gif" width="199" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Follow the whole tour for this novel here: <a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/12/08/pump-up-your-book-presents-reconstructing-jackson-virtual-book-publicity-tour/">http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/12/08/pump-up-your-book-presents-reconstructing-jackson-virtual-book-publicity-tour/</a></div><br />My Thoughts:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahMzhUEBSOE/UPNzqUE1rHI/AAAAAAAAD9E/UhVdMnNiqMM/s1600/cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahMzhUEBSOE/UPNzqUE1rHI/AAAAAAAAD9E/UhVdMnNiqMM/s320/cover.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>The first thing I noticed about this novel was the cover - it has to grab me, peak my interest and make me want to jump in and this one really did!&nbsp; I love old photos, and a picture is worth a thousand words.&nbsp; This image on the cover told me that a great story awaited me!<br /><br />I love books that are set in the antebellum south, it is a time period that I love in American history and I find fascinating.&nbsp; This author takes you to the time and place in such a way that you don't even realize it is 2013 and you are stuck in your living room with laundry and dishes awaiting you!<br /><br />I loved the characters, Reed and Belle grab you from the jump and really do keep you interested throughout the novel.&nbsp; Their heartache as they learn and grow from their past and into their future is inspiring and really does make you root for them as a reader.<br /><br />I also loved the writing style - this is my first Holly Bush novel but it sure won't be my last!&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/reconstructing-jackson-by-holly-bush.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-1662178930885791769Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:16:00 +00002013-01-14T10:18:23.165-05:00Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann and Maurice Sendak<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ-lmv3U_M4/UPHsTtPbbcI/AAAAAAAAD4g/JYXbxKWt2C0/s1600/nut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ-lmv3U_M4/UPHsTtPbbcI/AAAAAAAAD4g/JYXbxKWt2C0/s320/nut.jpg" width="312" /></a>What a beautiful book...seriously, a book this beautiful hasn't arrived on my doorstep for review in a long time and I am so grateful to&nbsp;The Crown Publishing Group&nbsp;for asking me to review it.<br /><br />I have always been fascinated with this story as most people have and have been in awe of the storytelling present between the covers.&nbsp; It is no wonder that this story has been adapted so many times in so many different ways.<br /><br /><i>About the Book:</i><br /><br /><i>"A classic, new and complete. One of the ten best illustrated children's books of the year."<br />-- New York Times Book Review<br /><br />The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share.<br /><br />Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Christmas production of Nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages.</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5V4ZH5KZJo/UPHuSgOID-I/AAAAAAAAD6E/YdKtuLW-4EY/s1600/078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5V4ZH5KZJo/UPHuSgOID-I/AAAAAAAAD6E/YdKtuLW-4EY/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>The world of Nutcracker is a world of pleasures. Maurice Sendak's art illuminates the delights of Hoffmann's story in this rich and tantalizing treasure. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />About the Authors:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0GpGJoki4E/UPHsLjr111I/AAAAAAAAD4Q/8fFB2tFJKkg/s1600/ET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0GpGJoki4E/UPHsLjr111I/AAAAAAAAD4Q/8fFB2tFJKkg/s1600/ET.jpg" /></a></div>Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, better known by his pen name E.T.A. Hoffmann (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann), was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist. He is the subject and hero of Jacques Offenbach's famous but fictional opera The Tales of Hoffmann, and the author of the novelette The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based. The ballet Coppelia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote.<br /><br />Hoffmann's stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-4RmO8cvGo/UPHsPafzhOI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/XgKcPAVIJZU/s1600/maurice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-4RmO8cvGo/UPHsPafzhOI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/XgKcPAVIJZU/s1600/maurice.jpg" /></a><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489">Maurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature who is best known for his book <em>Where the Wild Things Are</em>, published in 1963. An elementary school (from kindergarten to grade five) in North Hollywood, California is named in his honor.<br /><br />Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents, and decided to become an illustrator after viewing Walt Disney's film <em>Fantasia</em> at the age of twelve. His illustrations were first published in 1947 in a textbook titled <em>Atomics for the Millions</em> by Dr. Maxwell Leigh Eidinoff. He spent much of the 1950s working as an artist for children's books, before beginning to write his own stories.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489"><i>My Thoughts:</i></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPpFgC6pt3o/UPHuHuiknEI/AAAAAAAAD50/_xOCi5njC_c/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPpFgC6pt3o/UPHuHuiknEI/AAAAAAAAD50/_xOCi5njC_c/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489">Not only do I adore this book, I am so amazed by how beautiful the illustrations are.&nbsp; When this first arrived my only thought was how beautiful it would be on a coffee table for the Christmas holidays.&nbsp; How the beautiful cover and illustrations inside would beckon those who saw it to pick it up and flip through the pages. &nbsp;</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET7GYhWmhrg/UPHuMhFK-aI/AAAAAAAAD58/p1J3uC0_4FA/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET7GYhWmhrg/UPHuMhFK-aI/AAAAAAAAD58/p1J3uC0_4FA/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489">Aside from its beauty, this type of writing just doesn't exist anymore...at least not in my opinion.&nbsp; This is what makes a classic earn that honor - they are timeless and no matter what century you pick it up in, it applies to and amazes you as a reader.&nbsp; I love this story, and this adaptation of it brings it right back to life for me. &nbsp;</span><br /><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489"><i></i>Everyone should own and read at least once this story, and I can see it being a real treasured read for my kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBnyyLN703c/UPHuv5_Xy6I/AAAAAAAAD6M/4wcKxj5Oyy8/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBnyyLN703c/UPHuv5_Xy6I/AAAAAAAAD6M/4wcKxj5Oyy8/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="freeTextContainerauthor4489"><i>&nbsp;</i> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/nutcracker-by-eta-hoffmann-and-maurice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-12313566371650683Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:35:00 +00002013-01-12T07:35:55.676-05:00Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqKVhrRtF1s/UPFYh9TKjEI/AAAAAAAAD20/Cdu-bmIrpjc/s1600/Mississippi%27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqKVhrRtF1s/UPFYh9TKjEI/AAAAAAAAD20/Cdu-bmIrpjc/s320/Mississippi%27.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>I have to admit that I read this book a while back and am just getting around to reviewing it - I have a whole slew of posts that are drafts and I am really trying to catch up on reviewing what I have already read!<br /><br /><b><i>About the Book:</i></b><br /><br /><i>At first Hiram is excited to visit his hometown in Mississippi. But soon after he arrives, he crosses paths with Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who is also visiting for the summer, and Hiram sees firsthand how the local whites mistreat blacks who refuse to "know their place." When Emmett's tortured dead body is found floating in a river, Hiram is determined to find out who could do such a thing. But what will it cost him to know? Mississippi Trial, 1955 is a gripping read, based on true events that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. </i><br /><br />About the Author:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kD4CpYtwJPk/UPFYnAEY07I/AAAAAAAAD28/nBPCRrGfyMA/s1600/chris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kD4CpYtwJPk/UPFYnAEY07I/AAAAAAAAD28/nBPCRrGfyMA/s320/chris.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Chris Crowe, a professor of English at Brigham Young University, has published award-winning fiction and nonfiction for teenagers, poetry, essays, books, and many articles for academic and popular magazines.&nbsp; He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth, and they are the parents of four children and grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters.&nbsp; They live in Provo, Utah.<br /><br /><i>My Thoughts:</i><br /><br />The description states that this is a gripping read and that is absolutely accurate!&nbsp; Wow...I am glad I waited to review it for a little while because you really do need time to digest and reflect on this one.<br /><i> </i><br />The characters are realistic, the plot is captivating, the setting one that we all can see easily.&nbsp; While Hiram's character is fictional others are real and the story vividly portrays what life must have been like during the time of Jim Crowe and how very much change was needed.&nbsp; Hiram is faced with some tough situations and decisions but his character is one of strength and perseverance.&nbsp; I love that he is a character of growth and evolution and it is a neat experience as a reader to follow along on his journey.<br /><br />This book is gripping, educational, important and a great read for middle school aged children.&nbsp; I would highly recommend this one to parents, teachers and students!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none ! important;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/mississippi-trial-1955-by-chris-crowe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-259389927102705359Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:05:00 +00002013-01-10T08:05:59.448-05:00Kissing Kendall by Jennifer Shirk - GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NlVtsarltok/UO67y21PWwI/AAAAAAAADzw/XPNdzKYS8cQ/s1600/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NlVtsarltok/UO67y21PWwI/AAAAAAAADzw/XPNdzKYS8cQ/s320/banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><b>Jennifer will be awarding a free eBook of Kissing Kendall or an eBook from her back-list (winner's choice) to a random commenter at each stop. (There must be a minimum of 5 comments on each blog for a winner to be chosen).</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>Follow the book tour at: <a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/10/virtual-book-tour-kissing-kendall-by.html">http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/10/virtual-book-tour-kissing-kendall-by.html</a><br />&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-size: large;">HOW TO WRITE BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS: OUTLINE OR NO?</span></b></div><br />Hi, all! Jennifer here.<br /><br />I get asked a lot by writers and bloggers about whether I outline or write by the seat of my pants. Well, I can honestly answer…YES.<br /><br />To both.<br /><br />Every writer is different. That’s why there are different stories out there. We all work on a different level. But for me, I have to –HAVE TO—have some sort of road map so to speak to start out with. <br /><br />So I create a very rough outline before I begin a story. Sometimes it’s not even a whole outline. I may only know what I want to happen in the first six chapters and the ending of the book. But that is enough to begin writing. Plus, I rarely stick to an outline. I usually keep about 75%. The rest changes as I write and I realize what is working and what isn’t. <br /><br />It does help to look over my outline when I first begin writing for the day, too, because at that point I’m going in cold and need to warm up to my characters. I can’t just WRITE. But once the juices flow, I can then make notes and changes to the outline as I write and even write myself a note of what I want to write about for the next day.<br /><br />Clear as oatmeal, right?<br /><br />After many tries of doing it various ways, this system seems to work the best for me.<br /><br />I so appreciate the chance to showcase my new sweet romance release from Entangled Publishing--&nbsp; KISSING KENDALL today. I hope you all get to check it out!<br /><br />And be on the lookout for my fun Valentine’s Day novella coming out the end of this month! It’s called A LITTLE BIT CUPID--about a loner who must find true love before midnight on Valentine’s Day or risk having humanity lose love forever, and with the help of Cupid’s son himself, she seeks out Mr. Wrong while Mr. Right is right under her nose. <br /><br />Thanks so much to EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE for having me! <br /><br />HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU A WRITER? DO YOU OUTLINE AT ALL?<br /><br /><b>About the Book:</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3e_BPB7WBHQ/UO68BRt0i0I/AAAAAAAADz4/kiMCDF_r1cg/s1600/book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3e_BPB7WBHQ/UO68BRt0i0I/AAAAAAAADz4/kiMCDF_r1cg/s1600/book+cover.jpg" /></a></div><i>Kendall Grisbaum has been trying to pick up of the pieces of her life since the death of her firefighter husband almost two years ago. The last thing she’s interested in is love and feels the best way to start moving on is to concentrate on opening up her new bakery business. Unfortunately, she’s finding it hard to remember those two points now that her old friend and policeman Brad Mayer is back in her life and giving her a helping hand.<br /><br />After losing her husband in the line of duty, Kendall doesn’t want to get involved with another man with a dangerous job, and refuses to give in to her attraction to the handsome police officer. But Brad has always loved Kendall from afar and now that he senses she might feel the same, he’s determined to show her the real danger would be to lose another chance at love.</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>About the Author:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozhr1PjhSCU/UO68U5TToKI/AAAAAAAAD0A/oCMaBRItpQ0/s1600/author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozhr1PjhSCU/UO68U5TToKI/AAAAAAAAD0A/oCMaBRItpQ0/s1600/author.jpg" /></a>Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy-which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.<br /><br />She writes sweet romantic comedies and won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her book, The Role of a Lifetime. <br /><br />She's also a board member for Straight Ahead Ministries, an organization involved in helping spread the gospel and aiding medical and pharmacy students in Russia. She resides in a beach resort in NJ, and when she's not involved in all the above, she's taking care of her most treasured possessions: her husband, daughter, and four hermit crabs.<br /><br />Website:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.jennifershirk.com/">http://www.jennifershirk.com/</a><br /><br />Blog:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/">http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Facebook:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Shirk/100000745044647">http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Shirk/100000745044647</a><br /><br />Twitter:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/jennifershirk" target="_blank"> http://www.twitter.com/jennifershirk</a><br /><br />Amazon:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Kendall-Maritime-City-ebook/dp/B00AKQTJ6U" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Kendall-Maritime-City-ebook/dp/B00AKQTJ6U</a><br />BN:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-kendall-jennifer-shirk/1113924255?ean=2940015717211">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-kendall-jennifer-shirk/1113924255?ean=2940015717211</a><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><b>Excerpt:</b><br /><br />Kendall turned all her frustration at herself onto Brad, who stood there with wide eyes and exaggerated innocence. The Boy Scout routine did not look good on him. She folded her arms, giving him a disapproving look. “So you forgot I had a date with Rick tonight?”<br /><br />He shrugged. “What? It could happen. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”<br /><br />“Wow, you’re right. I can’t imagine shoving another single thought in a head as cramped as yours.”<br /><br />They stared each other down for almost a minute before Brad flung his hands up in the air. “All right, I didn’t forget. So sue me! I wanted to stop by and make sure you were okay. You may not know this, but Rick happens to date a lot of women. A lot of women. And you…I mean, no offense, but you’re a little out of practice in the dating department.”<br /><br />“Out of practice?” Oh, if that wasn’t a proverbial slap in the face, she didn’t know what was. Brad thought she was clueless—which was ridiculous. She didn’t know what had gotten into him, but he was actually treating her like…like… Georgie! Well, that was just great. He was treating her like his sister.<br /><br />“I don’t know what you were so worried about. What did you think was going to happen, Brad? Rick was a perfect gentleman all night. Something you should know, considering he’s one of your friends,” she said over her shoulder as she stormed up her walkway.<br /><br />“Hey, hang on,” Brad called, jogging to catch up with her. “You can’t tell me you actually have a thing for Rick, can you?”<br /><br />She stopped and whirled around. “Well, considering my date was interrupted before it was over, I never really got a chance to figure that out.”<br /><br />“I didn’t ruin anything,” he huffed. “Your date was over before it’d even begun. You would have known five seconds into meeting him whether there was chemistry or not between you two. So go ahead and have a second date—have a hundred dates for all I care! It won’t matter. You’ll come to the same conclusion I did.”<br /><br />Kendall tipped her chin in defiance. “And just what conclusion is that?”<br /><br />He flung to the ground the papers he had in his hand and stepped forward, close enough that she could practically feel his temper radiating from his body. “That Rick is not the man for you.”<br /><br />Her body tensed at the heat in his voice, but for some reason she continued to challenge him. “Ha, like you would know.”<br /><br />“I would know.”<br /><br />She glared at him. “What kind of man is for me then?”<br /><br />Brad’s gaze darkened and something new and intense flickered between them. He took another step forward. “You deserve a man who’ll take you in his arms.” Then in one forward motion, he pulled her to him and that’s exactly where she was.<br /><br />And it felt…heavenly.<br /><br />In his embrace, her thoughts all clogged together and she had a tough time even remembering how they had ended up entwined on her front porch in the first place. She looked up and noticed he was watching her intently, maybe judging her reaction to being held so close to him or whether or not he’d proven his point.<br />His lips slowly traveled to her ear. “You deserve a man who makes your knees go weak.”<br /><br />She swallowed. Weak knees? Check. In fact, her knees were more than weak; they were downright overcooked noodles.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o0_rN5U6sw/UO68YVRUzLI/AAAAAAAAD0I/THIlAGhK9PY/s1600/book+cover+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o0_rN5U6sw/UO68YVRUzLI/AAAAAAAAD0I/THIlAGhK9PY/s1600/book+cover+banner.jpg" /></a>Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm, but she cleared her throat, pretending not to be affected. “You seem to think you know a lot about what kind of man is right for me.”<br /><br />“I do,” he murmured. His lips were so close; they grazed her earlobes and were brushing along her jawbone in light wispy movements. “And I definitely know the right man for you is not the kind of man who’s going to settle for a mere good-night peck on the cheek at the end of your first date.”<br /><br />“He’s not?” she whispered, suddenly at a loss for breath.<br /><br />Brad’s lips began drawing closer to her mouth. “No, he’s not. Because the man for you has been dreaming about your mouth ever since he first laid eyes on you. So he won’t be able to handle one more second without knowing the feel of your lips beneath his own.”<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px;" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/kissing-kendall-by-jennifer-shirk-guest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-8082105277503505314Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:45:00 +00002013-01-07T07:45:38.477-05:00Winter's Magic by Cynthia Gail<i>Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.<br /><br />After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.<br /><br />Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.<br /><br />Read a FREE first chapter sampler on Amazon and Barnes &amp; Noble.</i><br /><br /><strong><em>To enter the tour giveaway, see the schedule link: </em></strong><br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/10/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-winter-magic-virtual-book-publicity-tour-50-visa-cardebook-swag-giveaway/">http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/10/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-winter-magic-virtual-book-publicity-tour-50-visa-cardebook-swag-giveaway/</a> </em></strong><br /><br /><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1a49cf52/" id="rc-1a49cf52" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br />About the Author:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-linknRNHhGA/UL-hoAlPaPI/AAAAAAAADjo/Gl2VYFgAZN0/s1600/cynthia.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-linknRNHhGA/UL-hoAlPaPI/AAAAAAAADjo/Gl2VYFgAZN0/s320/cynthia.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our teenage son and three dogs. Life is busy, but when I have free time, I love to read. A math/science girl at heart and a retail analyst by trade, I never thought I’d be writing romance. But one day, a story popped into my head and I had to write it down. The fantasy, escape, and wonder of just reading multiplied by ten-fold and I couldn’t stop my fingers from typing my own fairy tales.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy my stories. Each one touches on modern day issues, fears, and challenges that women face every day. And each one illustrates that love is within reach if you let down those walls and allow your heart to open. Our lives and experiences are so much more meaningful when we have someone to share them with.<br /><br />Cynthia’s latest book is the contemporary romance, Winter’s Magic (Book 1 in the Music City Hearts series).<br /><br />Visit her website at <a href="http://www.cynthiagail.com/">www.Cynthiagail.com</a>.<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYqse9K2gfw/UMTstzDzv9I/AAAAAAAADlI/q-Q9V1jULYI/s1600/WintersMagic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYqse9K2gfw/UMTstzDzv9I/AAAAAAAADlI/q-Q9V1jULYI/s320/WintersMagic.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><a href="https://twitter.com/CynthiaGailBook" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Facebook | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564818.Cynthia_Gail" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Winters-Magic-Hearts-Series-ebook/dp/B009WEFVLI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1351439209&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=cynthia+gail" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winters-magic-cynthia-gail/1113610768?ean=2940015854640" target="_blank">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/winters-magic/" target="_blank">Soul Mate Publishing</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />“Heartwarming and Magical” ~ Romance Reviews Today<br /><br />“I very highly recommend this book. The writing is excellent and the characters are realistic and easy to relate to. It's full of drama, a little mystery, passion, and romance ... Once I started, I couldn't put it down ... This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Gail and I can't wait to read more!” ~ Life in Review<br /><br />“The dialogue is engaging, the love story is dazzling and the romance sizzling.” ~ Author Janna Shay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2013/01/winters-magic-by-cynthia-gail.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3802970711393437554.post-8799188832114809502Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:47:00 +00002012-12-28T18:47:40.777-05:00A Clearing in the Wild (Change and Cherish Historical #1) by Jane Kirkpatrick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBtKhlWV3hY/UN4vfeceGwI/AAAAAAAADw8/h5aG8J1ddZY/s1600/Clearing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBtKhlWV3hY/UN4vfeceGwI/AAAAAAAADw8/h5aG8J1ddZY/s320/Clearing.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><i>Young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of Bethel colony, an 1850s religious community in Missouri that is determined to remain untainted by the concerns of the world. A passionate and independent thinker, she resents the limitations placed on women, who are expected to serve in quiet submission. In a community where dissent of any form is discouraged, Emma finds it difficult to rein in her tongue–and often doesn’t even try to do so, fueling the animosity between her and the colony’s charismatic and increasingly autocratic leader, Wilhelm Keil.<br /><br />Eventually Emma and her husband, Christian, are sent along with eight other men to scout out a new location in the northwest where the Bethelites can prepare to await “the last days.” Christian believes they’ve found the ideal situation in Washington territory, but when Keil arrives with the rest of the community, he rejects Christian’s choice in favor of moving to Oregon.<br /><br />Emma pushes her husband to take this opportunity to break away from the group, but her longed-for influence brings unexpected consequences. As she seeks a refuge for her wounded faith, she learns that her passionate nature can be her greatest strength–if she can harness it effectively.</i><br /><br />My Thoughts: <i><br /></i><br /><br />This is my first experience with Jane Kirkpatrick's work but it surely won't be my last. I am taken with how amazing her writing style is and this book and it's emphasis on a fascinating historical period make it a winner in my book!<br /><br />I commend the author for taking on this time period and it's issues such as women's roles. I appreciated the slower moving pace of the plot-line because it allowed me as a reader to focus on the important details and issues that the author covers.<br /><br />I adore novels where there is a real connection to true history and that makes me appreciate this one even more. The author's careful time and research pertaining to the development of the characters is evident and appreciated. I think it adds a depth to this story that would otherwise not be there. Character and setting are the two most important aspects of a good novel because if those are there, the plot-line will be easier to follow - Kirkpatrick certainly recognizes that as well!<br /><br />I look forward to reading the rest of the series and have added it to my TBR list. <br /><br />About the Author:<br /><br />Jane grew up near Mondovi, Wisconsin, a little town not far from the Mississippi River. Her older sister Judy (now deceased) and younger brother Craig helped on the family dairy farm. Dozens of cousins lived within 50 miles providing the privilege of extended family memories. Most of the "Rutschow" clan remained in the Wisconsin-Minnesota area. Jane moved to Oregon in 1974 after completing her master's degree in social work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She worked in the disabilities field and became the director of the mental health program in Deschutes County and the first female president of the Oregon Community Mental Health Director's Association.<br /><br />Homesteading &amp; Family<br /><br />Eventually, Jane "retired" to homestead and begin a new adventure in writing, working on the Warm Springs Indian reservation, growing watermelons, and attempting to grow grapes, alfalfa and cattle. The Kirkpatrick's new life included "clearing sagebrush and wrestling wind and rattlesnakes" while "homesteading" land on the John Day River in a remote part of Oregon known locally as Starvation Point.&nbsp; "It was our 'rural 7-Eleven' since our home sat seven miles from the mailbox and eleven miles from the pavement" notes the author. Additionally, she worked for seventeen years as a mental health and educational consultant on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon with both Native American and non-Indian communities, a position she left in 2002.&nbsp; Jane has two step-children.&nbsp; Kathleen lives in Florida with her family and youngest granddaughter, Madison.&nbsp; Matt lives in Wasco and works on the ranch full time when not looking after his family including his and Melissa's daughter, Mariah.<br /><br />In the fall of 2010, after twenty-six years on the homestead, Jane and Jerry, her husband of 35 years, made another life change moving back to Central Oregon near Bend. "There is a season for everything," Jane notes.&nbsp; Their seasons on the ranch changed their lives and they leave with no regrets looking forward to new adventures in writing and life.<br /><br />Speaker &amp; Philosophy<br /><br />A lively and humorous speaker, Kirkpatrick is a frequent keynote presenter for conferences, women's retreats,fund-raisers and workshops.&nbsp; In addition to her historical fiction which dramatizes pioneer life, Homestead relates, with love and laughter, her own family's modern-day struggle to catch a dream in the Oregon Territory.<br /><br />Jane believes that our lives are the stories that others read first and she encourages groups to discover the power of their own stories to divinely heal and transform. Visit her blog for more information about her current projects and the privilege of following one's passion wherever the dreams may lead. <br />&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/146/B0517255BA95C8077DEE460AED99A1A2.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-clearing-in-wild-change-and-cherish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lindsay)1